INFORMATION SERVICE

January 2004

ICPD + 10 Programmes & AFPPD

The Asian Forum will organize a number of events to highlight ICPD+10 to the parliamentarians in Asian, Pacific and Central Asia.  AFPPD will also join with IPPF to celebrate ICPD+10 in South East Asia and South Asia.  The major events organized by AFPPD in 2004 are:

• Asian Medical Parliamentarians Conference-Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

• Asian Women's Parliamentarians and Ministers Conference -Australia

• Meeting of the Standing Committee on Women -Australia

• South East Asian Meetings of Professional Parliamentarians on ICPD + 10-Bangkok, Thailand

• Standing Committee on Food Security and Population-Bangkok, Thailand

• Inter-Country Parliamentarians Meeting on HIV/AIDS and Youth-Bali, Indonesia  

• APDA-Asia Pacific Seminar on Population and Development- Kazakhstan

ICPD +10 International Events

Several international organizations will organize ICPD +10 events around the world. The most important will be the International Parliamentarians Conference on ICPD in Strasburg, France in from 17-19 October 2004, to be organized by all regional parliamentarian groups with UNFPA.  The Inter-European Parliamentarians Group will be the host with the European Parliament.

Other events to take place are:

• UNFPA Population Commission Meeting, 22-24 March - New York, USA
• Special Discussion on ICPD+10 at the UN General Assembly
• Global Population Forum - organized by Population Institute, 13-14 May - Washington DC, USA
• IPPF South Asian and South East Asian Forums-Kathmandu, Nepal and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
• IPPF International Roundtable on ICPD+10, 30 Aug 2 Sept - London, UK  
• International Forum on ICPD and MDG organized by Partners in Development and Government of China, 7-10 September - Yichang City, China
  
  Events in February 
  
• National Parliamentarians Conference in Rajkat, India from 14-16 February 2004 organized by Indian Association of Parliamentarians on Population and Development (IAPPD) with AFPPD.
• PNoWB 5th International Conference in Paris, France from 14-16 February 2004.
• JICA International Seminar on Capacity Development (AFPPD participation on Enhancing Political Commitment for Capacity Development) in Tokyo, Japan from 4-6 February 2004.  

AFPPD Urges the U.S.A. to release funds to UNFPA

The Asian Forum learns with delight that US Congress and Senate both approved US$ 34 million for UNFPA.  In the past, despite the approval from the elected representatives of the American people, the US Administration chose not to give the funds to UNFPA, pointing to UNFPA's support to China, although all investigating committees have cleared UNFPA from any association to the support of coercive abortion policy.  As Thoraya Ahmed Obaid, thanked congress for their support she stated that this funding is critical in saving women's lives around the world through the voluntary family planning and reproductive health care and urged US Administration not to withhold the funds.  UNFPA estimates that $34 million applied to family planning programmes could prevent some 800.000 abortions, 4,700 maternal deaths and 77,000 infant and child deaths annually world wide.

AFPPD Small Grant Programmes

In 2004 the Asian Forum will give special emphasis on national and sub-regional parliamentarians involvement through innovative approaches.  AFPPD will provide more support for programmes, which can reach larger number of parliamentarians who have not been active in the population and reproductive health field.

AFPPD Participant, Health and Family Welfare Minister in India

Dr. Ballabh Bhai Katheria, MP and active participant of AFPPD, who was the State Minister of Human Resource Development, has now been named the State Minister for Health and Family Welfare in Central Government in India.  He was also the convener of the International Conference on South Asian HIV/AIDS held last year in New Delhi, India.

Hewlett Foundation Person-to-Person Advocacy

AFPPD's approach to reach the maximum number of parliamentarians in one country is through conducting a person-to-person advocacy project, which is being funded by the Hewlett Foundation.  The progress of the project has been appreciated by the Executive Committee of AFPPD as well as the UNFPA country offices in Indonesia and Cambodia, where the project is being implemented successfully.  This may be the first time that an agency will have met members of parliament on a one on one basis to discuss population and development related issues.

High Level Policy Forum on Improving Legal Environment for HIV/AIDS Prevention

A two-day High Level Policy Forum on Improving Legal Environment for HIV/AIDS prevention in China convened at Heping Hotel in Beijing.  The forum was organized by the Education, Science, Culture and Health Committee of China National People's Congress with United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) China Office.  Representatives from around 30 Chinese government organizations including the Supreme People's Court, Chinese Peoples Political Consultative Conference, and Supreme People's Procuratorate attended the forum.  The forum concentrated on issues of future development trends of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in China, the social and economic consequences of the epidemic, China's prevention measures, the legal environment of HIV/AIDS legislation, HIV/AIDS drugs, vaccine development and the social responsibilities.

Parliamentary Conference discussed "Migration and Integration: a challenge to Europe?"

The Committee on Migration, Refugees and Demography of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and the French Parliamentary Delegation to the Assembly organised a Parliamentary Conference on the theme of “Migration and integration: a challenge to Europe?” in Paris last 19 January.    There were over 100 participants in attendance; the discussions focused four themes: demographic trends and migration flows, controlling illegal immigration in the respect for human rights and for the right of asylum; migration and development; and integration and sectarianism.

Reports Available

The report and paper of the AFPPD supported South Asian Workshop on Parliamentary Advocacy for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, held in Dhaka, Bangladesh are now available.  The report was prepared by UNFPA/CST South Asia in cooperation with UNFPA Dhaka and AFPPD.